Professor Jennifer Brown ENG 101 April 13th, 2014 Causes of Wildfires Wildfires are catastrophic disasters that destroy everything in their path. “A wildfire (also known as forest fire, grass fire, vegetation fire, etc) is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wild land areas, but which can also consume houses or agricultural resources.” (Wildfire.) The causes of wildfires are mostly intentional, negligence or accidents and natural causes. Wildfires have three distinct phases: Initiation, propagation,
A series of wildfires detrimentally affected California this summer of 2016 having destroyed an abundance of people’s homes and leaving them subjected to evacuation orders, but particularly the Chimney fire which has been burning since August 13, and is currently only 35% contained since reported on August 23. The cause of the majority of wildfires have been shown to be caused by human errors such as campfires, smoking, and debris burning according to several statistics and charts provided by the
effects that wildfires have on every worldwide country really has left its mark on the land. As written by world renowned wild fire spokesperson Smokey the Bear, “Every year, wildfires sweeps through parts of the United States setting wilderness and homes ablaze. On average these raging infernos destroy about four to five million acres of land a year. But in 2012, wildfire burned more than 9.3 million acres, an area about the size of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined” (U.S. Wildfires). Destroying
Environmental & Economic Effects of Wildfires in Colorado Springs The potential for wildfires has increased in the Western United States over the last several years. Scientists and researchers tout climate change with increasing temperatures as well as drought as the main culprit of the increasing number of wildfires. It is projected that rising temperatures will continue and lead to even more frequent, large, and severe wildfires as well as even longer wildfire seasons (Cleetus & Mulik, 2014). It
"Controlled Fires" Wildfires, "Controlled' wildfires specifically, they are said to help the environment and reduce chances for more extreme fires by eliminating hazardous fuels, but in reality they can cause more problems than they stop them. Fires are unpredictable and cannot be "Controlled," they can cause nearby homes to go up in flames and send smoke and ash into the air affecting residents near the area. Some may say they actually promote growth for trees and plants, but what
Wildfire Mitigation Thesis: Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Introduction: Humans have been changing the Western forests' fire system since the settlement by the Europeans and now we are experiencing the consequences of those changes. During the summer
Landslides) wildfires can be one of deadliest. A wildfires are uncontrolled fires, which is why they are so dangerous. Often wildfires occur in uncultivated, unpopulated areas, however, they can occur anywhere and destroy homes, agriculture, humans, and animals in their path(dosomething.org). An average of 116,000 burned 4 million acres of U.S. woodland burn per year between 1988-1997( Omi). Furthermore, in 2004, wildfires burned more than 8 million acres in 40 States(USGS). Although a wildfire can be
One form that is a controversial topic whether it benefits our planet or causes damage to it is wildfires. A wildfire is a fire in an area with combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a rural area. Many people look at wildfires at only a bad thing but in fact when wildfires are allowed to burn in areas that do not impact human development,
Wildfires are massive fires that occur suddenly, particularly in rural areas with combustible vegetation, and can have many causes which may be natural or humanrelated. Both natural and unnatural causes of wildfires have advantages and disadvantages. The rate at which wildfires spread is highly dependent on their environment and other factors. Wildfires may pose a number of threats to human property, life, and health; however, even though they can be a hazard to humans, they are also an important
Introduction: As the 2014 “Wildfire Season” kicks off across the American West, it is crucial that the Administration examines the glaring failures of current federal wildfire policy. Drier and hotter summers are contributing to longer and more intense wildfire seasons, while in the meantime, the dangers and costs of fighting those fires have increased substantially. The budget and appropriations that are in place for the two main agencies that practice forest management, the United States Forest
Learn About Wildfires! Have you ever heard of a wildfire? I thought so. HAve you ever been in a wildfire? Well I hope not! This is an informational book about wildfires! You will learn about what a wildfire is, what could cause them, the damage they do, the fight firefighter have to do, the different types of fires, and what you can do to stay safe and prevent a wildfire! I hope you enjoy! What is a wildfire? What is a wildfire? We need to clear this up before we move on. A wildfire is an uncontrollable
and environmental changes. This paper will discuss the effect wildfires have on the forest ecosystem. Human beings cause most wildfires, directly or indirectly. In the United States lightning, the only truly natural cause is responsible for less than 10% of all such fires. In the West, lightning is the primary cause, with smoking (cigarettes, matches, and such) the second most frequent. Combined they account for 50 to 75% of all wildfires. In the “13 southern states (Virginia to Texas) the primary
Malibu and Yosemite share similar ecosystem, which encourages wildfires and periodic firestorms. In his book Ecology of Fear, Mike Davis argues that Malibu should burn because wildfires are a part of its history. To illustrate his point, he relates numerous historical events from the first settlement of the region to modern days. Despite the high frequency of wildfires in Malibu, humans have continued to settle there in droves. Those settlers have fought the fires, which has done nothing but augment
“More than 90 percent of the wildfires have been caused by human actions”(Gabriel Zacharias).The remaining 10 percent are started by lightning or lava. Wildfires can somewhat be good at times when burning and keeping the greenery down to build buildings or houses near. Though at times accidental wildfires can kill wildlife, kill people, burn homes and cause much more damage to anything the fire spreads to all from throwing a single cigarette. The government in brazil needs to get involved in this
As people of the twenty-first century, we are all too familiar with the frequent occurrence of wildfires in our nation’s forests. Each year millions of acres of woodlands are destroyed in brutal scorches. It has been estimated that 190 million acres of rangelands in the United States are highly susceptible to catastrophic fires (www.doi.gov/initiatives/forest.html.). About a third of these high-risk forests are located in California (www.sfgate.com). These uncontrollable blazes not only consume our
and landslides; smoke and other emissions from the fire have pollutants that can cause health problems; destruction of wildlife habitats and our communities (“Wildfire hazards—a national threat,”2006). Nationally the same effects could happen at each forest fire and the government spends billions of dollars to stop the forest fires (“Wildfire hazards—a national threat,”2006). When spending billions of dollars, the government can go in debt which is not the way to go. Globally all of these things
Introduction Natural disasters include flood, wildfire, earthquake, tornado, extreme heat, hurricanes, landslides and mudslides, lightning strike, tsunami, volcano, winter weather, and windstorm (CDC, 2014). They affect thousands of people every year and give little or no warnings. These natural disasters come with many risks and preparation efforts by individuals, families, communities, cities, and organizations are needed to properly survive, combat, and be ready for them. Steps should be taken
A firestorm is a true force of nature. It is a wildfire that has its own wind system. There can be thunderclouds, rain, lightning, and even fire tornadoes inside the firestorm. In the past seven years, 19 firestorms have been documented. These storms have destroyed 1,388 structures, burned down 3.5 million acres, and killed 24 people. To understand firestorms one needs to understand fire. A fire needs three things to thrive: oxygen, fuel and heat. This is what experts call a fire triangle. Heat
the Pike National Forest, the Waldo Canyon fire of 2012 was the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history burning 18, 247 acres, killing two people, destroying 347 homes and damaging many more (City of Colorado Springs, 2013). In addition to property damages and loss of life, there were other damages caused from this wildfire to include wildlife, plant life, watershed and soil. Economic damages caused by this wildfire include firefighting costs, insurance claims, home displacement costs and business
Raging Fires “ Ninety-five percent of the nation’s adults and seventy-seven percent of its children can recite Smokey Bear’s slogan, and as for the bear himself, well, only Santa Claus ranks higher as a recognizable icon” ( Spinal 38). “Only you can prevent forest fires” were Smokey Bear’s iconic words, known by nearly every American in the Twentieth Century (“The True Story of Smokey Bear”). However, why was Smokey Bear needed? Why were forest fires on the increase? Actually, during World